Franco Colapinto’s Baku Blunder and Apology
Alpine’s Franco Colapinto apologised after a hard‑front tyre lock‑up sent Pierre Gasly and McLaren’s Lando Norris off the Baku track during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Incident Details
On the 36‑th restart of the race, Colapinto slid onto the low‑grip inside line before Turn 1 with a cold front tyre. The brake lock caused him to collide with Gasly’s front wheel, pulling Norris into the incident as well.
Aftermath and Penalties
The collision cost Alpine a massive points haul; both drivers had been in the top‑ten before the wreck. Norris, who finished on the podium, demanded a one‑race ban for the reckless move. Colapinto said he “locked up completely with cold tyres and cold brakes and was out of control,” and pledged apologies to the team, Pierre, and the entire factory. He admitted he broke the unwritten rule against taking out a teammate and expects a penalty from the race stewards.
Colapinto’s apology arrives as Alpine wrestles with the repercussions, while the FIA prepares to determine whether a sanction will be imposed.
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